MBDA National Director Hinson Speaks at Business Roundtable in Brazil

Director Hinson addressed a special business roundtable held in conjunction with the two-day technical meeting of the U.S. - Brazil Joint Action Plan in Brasilia, Brazil. Hinson provided an overview of the Minority Business Development Agency’s (MBDA) long history of helping minority-owned businesses become more competitive through greater access to contracts, capital, and markets.

The discussion included over 50 Afro-Brazilian businesses, public officials, and representatives from trade groups. The purpose of the roundtable was to engage segments of the Brazilian population, who have been historically excluded from the types of sustainable economic development that promotes growth and financial security.

Brazil as the host of several international sporting events, including the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup, and the 2016 Olympic Games expects to invest $106 billion in the preparations for these events. These investments, which include expenditures for infrastructure, construction, transportation systems, port improvements, public security, and airport infrastructure upgrades, will present significant commercial opportunities for U.S. companies.

MBDA, our diverse clientele of minority-owned businesses, and other key stakeholders are uniquely positioned to provide mutually beneficial mentorships and strategic partnerships that will lead to economic prosperity. There are unprecedented opportunities for business owners in the United States and Brazil – the two largest economies in the Western Hemisphere and MBDA can help build these partnerships.

David Hinson is National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency. He is currently in Brazil as a member of a Federal interagency delegation on the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial Inequality.